Officer fired weapon while trying to issue driver a parking citation

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Charges of attempted murder were expected to be filed against the driver of a tractor trailer who attacked a police officer outside a Planned Parenthood facility in Northwest Indiana, officials said late Monday.

Both the driver and the officer were taken to a hospital after the attack and shooting outside the facility, at 8645 Connecticut Street, in Merrillville.

It began at about 2 p.m., when the officer, who was off-duty at the time and who has a second job at the Planned Parenthood, issued two citations for the illegally-parked tractor trailer, said Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force spokesman Bob Byrd.

Byrd said the driver of the truck returned to the area about two hours later. That's when the officer who wrote the tickets tried to investigate and explain why the tickets were written. During that conversation, the male trucker began attacking the officer, officials said.

The officer ended up on the ground of the parking lot with the attacker repeatedly punching the officer in the face, Byrd explained. The officer fired his weapon in self-defense, Byrd said.

The trucker was being treated for a non life-threatening gunshot wound to the stomach. The officer was still undergoing tests late Monday.

The truck driver has at least three prior arrests by the Atlanta Police Department. Those arrests include charges of driving on a suspended license, criminal trespassing and domestic violence.

Officials said they don't believe there is any connection to the Planned Parenthood other than the officer being employed there part-time.